Biotechnology is commonly divided into two eras: traditional and modern.
Traditional biotechnology has been in use for thousands of years. Since the domestication of the dog during the Mesolithic Period of the Stone Age, selective breeding has been a form of biotechnology. Each successive generation has been improved to carry desirable traits. A hundred years ago an organism’s DNA would be scanned to look for desirable traits and the organisms with the traits would be bred. This is no longer necessary, since we can genetically engineer animals.
Dolly, the first cloned animal
Dolly, the first cloned animal
This video deals with the different aspects of animal biotechnology.
Another form of biotechnology that has been around for thousands of years is the manipulation of microorganisms in food. Microorganisms are used to turn milk into cheese and yogurt. They are used to ferment beer and wine. Yeast is also used in bread to make it rise. All of this is biotechnology because it involves the manipulation of organisms.
Modern biotechnology deals more with the treatment of ailments and alteration of organisms to better human life. Most breakthroughs in biotechnology have all been relatively current, with the discovery of microbes about 170 years ago. Proteins were only discovered in 1830, with the isolation of the first enzyme following three years later. In 1859, Darwin published his revolutionary book, On the Origin of Species. Six years after that, Gregor Mendel discovered the laws of heredity and laid the groundwork for genetic research. Near the turn of the century, Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch provided the basis for research in microbiology.In 1985, genetic fingerprinting became credible evidence in the courtroom. Later on, forensic science became a common occurance in investigations. These numerous advancements allowed modern biotechnology to flourish.
The first major life changing product of biotechnology was insulin. In the 1920’s, it was already possible to isolate insulin from the pancreas of pigs and cows. However, some diabetics are allergic to bovine and with the growing need for insulin, biochemists began to look for a more effective solution. They turned to new technologies, specifically the recombining of DNA. They inserted an insulin-producing gene into bacteria and managed to clone these simple organisms, producing vast, easily accessible amounts of insulin.
The Human Genome Project, which began in the 1980s, was the most ambitious undertaking in the field of biotechnology in terms of sheer quantity. This plan to map out the entire human genome provided information about the roles of genes and how they compliment each other. The first completed draft was released in 2000.
The History of Biotechnology
Biotechnology is commonly divided into two eras: traditional and modern.
Traditional biotechnology has been in use for thousands of years. Since the domestication of the dog during the Mesolithic Period of the Stone Age, selective breeding has been a form of biotechnology. Each successive generation has been improved to carry desirable traits. A hundred years ago an organism’s DNA would be scanned to look for desirable traits and the organisms with the traits would be bred. This is no longer necessary, since we can genetically engineer animals.
This video deals with the different aspects of animal biotechnology.
Another form of biotechnology that has been around for thousands of years is the manipulation of microorganisms in food. Microorganisms are used to turn milk into cheese and yogurt. They are used to ferment beer and wine. Yeast is also used in bread to make it rise. All of this is biotechnology because it involves the manipulation of organisms.
Modern biotechnology deals more with the treatment of ailments and alteration of organisms to better human life. Most breakthroughs in biotechnology have all been relatively current, with the discovery of microbes about 170 years ago. Proteins were only discovered in 1830, with the isolation of the first enzyme following three years later. In 1859, Darwin published his revolutionary book, On the Origin of Species. Six years after that, Gregor Mendel discovered the laws of heredity and laid the groundwork for genetic research. Near the turn of the century, Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch provided the basis for research in microbiology.In 1985, genetic fingerprinting became credible evidence in the courtroom. Later on, forensic science became a common occurance in investigations. These numerous advancements allowed modern biotechnology to flourish.
The first major life changing product of biotechnology was insulin. In the 1920’s, it was already possible to isolate insulin from the pancreas of pigs and cows. However, some diabetics are allergic to bovine and with the growing need for insulin, biochemists began to look for a more effective solution. They turned to new technologies, specifically the recombining of DNA. They inserted an insulin-producing gene into bacteria and managed to clone these simple organisms, producing vast, easily accessible amounts of insulin.
The Human Genome Project, which began in the 1980s, was the most ambitious undertaking in the field of biotechnology in terms of sheer quantity. This plan to map out the entire human genome provided information about the roles of genes and how they compliment each other. The first completed draft was released in 2000.